Killing tumors with light. Is that something for the distant future? Certainly not! UMC Utrecht and start-up Lumox are now going to test an innovative therapy in a first patient study. As a result, hopefully, fewer people with head and neck cancer will have to undergo major surgery.
For many patients with head and neck cancer, surgery is the main treatment. It is often effective, but can have life-changing consequences. A person’s appearance may be affected, and speaking, swallowing, and eating may become more difficult. Even after radiation and chemotherapy, people are often confronted with permanent side effects.
“As a surgeon, I see every day how much impact our treatments can have on patients’ lives,” says Remco de Bree. He is project leader of the new patient study and professor of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology at UMC Utrecht. “We have made great strides, but there is still a need for treatments that are less stressful and at the same time very effective.”
Hopefully, the new therapy will be one of those less invasive ways to treat head and neck cancer. The Dutch Cancer Society is investing no less than 4.5 million euros to finance the patient study and part of the production of the drug.
“As a surgeon, I see patients every day, and I also see what can be improved. I want our patients to be able to benefit from progress.”
Preventing major surgeries
The innovative drug was developed by researchers from Utrecht University and biotech start-up Lumox. It consists of small targeted proteins, so-called ‘nanobodies’, that recognize and seek out cancer cells. A light-sensitive drug is linked to these proteins.
By means of a special lamp, the drug is activated, and doctors and researchers can control exactly where and when the drug becomes active. Researchers at Utrecht University have been working on the new drug for about ten years, with the support of KWF and Alpe d’Huzes.
The research group of Sabrina Santos Oliveira laid the foundation for the new treatment. Two researchers from Utrecht University, Irati Beltrán Hernández and Sebas Pronk, then took up the gauntlet to get the drug to patients faster. To this end, they founded the biotech company Lumox, a spin-off of Utrecht University.
“Our approach with nanobodies makes it possible to destroy cancer cells very selectively and spare the healthy tissue,” says Sebas. It is a very hopeful treatment, because it can prevent major surgeries, and the patient can recover faster, with fewer side effects.
“I immediately thought: this should not only end in a scientific article.”
Medicines from llamas
A striking part of the new treatment comes from an unexpected source. The so-called nanobodies on which the drug is based were originally discovered in the blood of llamas. Researchers use them because they are much smaller and are therefore particularly suitable for finding their way into tumor cells.
“Because of its small size, the drug can penetrate deep into the tumor,” Sebas explains. “This ensures that the drug can also be active in the core of the tumor. This is something that does not happen well with many existing therapies with larger antibodies (proteins that help fight diseases – ed.). So bigger is not always better.”
Irati adds: “Our goal is to tackle cancer as specifically as possible. By activating the drug only where the tumor is, we keep much more control over the treatment.”
“By activating the drug only where the tumor is, we keep much more control.”
“This has to go to patients”
Sebas’ colleague Irati knows the new drug through and through: “I have been researching this therapy for about ten years. In the beginning, it was still very fundamental, in the laboratory. But we have now successfully tested them in animals.”
Irati then saw that the animals were fortunately able to eat again very soon after the treatment. A sign that the approach causes little further damage.
“When I saw how specifically and powerfully the treatment could target tumors, I immediately thought: this should not just end in a scientific article,” Sebas adds. “This has to go to patients. There are many beautiful discoveries that never reach the patient. We wanted to make sure that this would not be one of them.”
Utrecht collaboration
Academic researchers, doctors and entrepreneurs are joining forces in the patient study. UMC Utrecht is conducting the clinical study and supervising the patients. Lumox develops and manufactures the drug being tested in the study. The study investigates the safety, applicability and dosage in patients with head and neck cancer.
According to Sebas, this collaboration is essential: patient studies require huge investments. “KWF funding alone is not enough for this. That is why we have set up a spin-off in the form of Lulox. This enables us to attract the necessary investments from outside.”
Also in other types of cancer
Initially, the new treatment is intended for people with head and neck cancer, for example in tumors in the oral cavity. But if this new approach works, the researchers want to go ahead and apply the treatment to more types of cancer.
Remco can’t wait for it to happen: “As a surgeon, I see patients every day and therefore I also see what can be improved. As a researcher, I can do something about that. That makes the combination of research and patient care very motivating. At the same time, it also makes you impatient: I want patients to benefit from progress. The fact that KWF is investing in this project is a huge step forward!”
Utrecht Cancer: Uniting expertise and innovation
At the Utrecht Science Park, various institutions are passionately committed to better understanding and treating cancer. UMC Utrecht, the faculties of Veterinary Medicine and Science of Utrecht University, the Hubrecht Institute and the Princess Máxima Center have united within Utrecht Cancer.
The more than 1200 researchers share their knowledge, innovation and experience to accelerate the treatment, quality of life and survival rates of adults, children and animals with cancer. Utrecht Cancer also encourages collaboration with other (public or private) parties.
